While it’s certainly admirable to carry a life philosophy of “Go Big or Go Home,” that doesn’t always have to be the case, especially if you’re looking to unknot your muscles, loosen your nerves, and relax your soul. Every road trip doesn’t have to be a gunning blast across the country and the desert’s beauty can be as impressive as forests or cities. Watching sunsets sink into the sandy and stony hills of the desert plains is an other-worldly experience.

Now, if you’re aiming to do just that in Southern California, there’s one place every local can agree on, whether they’re a musician or a rock climber: Joshua Tree. Yes, the landscape is rugged and the sky seems to trek on forever, but dotted throughout the wilderness are getaways and venues that’ll have you considering an indefinite life in the wild.

If you’re road tripping through Joshua Tree, we’ve got the places you need to see.

By: Jake Kilroy